Accredited journalists to get ‘Mabhoi’ insurance scheme

The state government has decided to launch health and personal accident insurance scheme for accredited journalists. The insurance scheme has been named as “Mabhoi”.

Accredited journalists up to the age of 65 years and even those who has retired will get the benefits of the insurance. Family members of the journalists including their parents, children and minor brothers and sisters will also be benefitted.

Under the scheme journalist can avail the health facilities in government run health care centres and hospitals. Apart from that the facilities will also be available in private health care centres enlisted with the government. The Information and the Cultural Affairs department will monitor the scheme that will get effective from 1 March.

These beneficial schemes comes a day after the Chief Minister launched Utkarsh Bangla, a unique short-term placement-based skill development programme which would see 3 lakh people being trained every year by the Paschim Banga Society for Skill Development (PBSSD), a registered society under the Technical Education and Training Department of the State. Another 3 lakh people would be trained by the Industrial Training Institutes, polytechnics, vocational schools and training centres.

“Utkarsh Bangla is Bengal’s Mission Excellence. It will provide direct linkage between the Employment Bank of the State Labour Department with the skill development initiatives of the State Technical Education and Training Department,” Mamata Banerjee had said. In order to provide hassle-free training at the grassroots, the Chief Minister reiterated her commitment to set up Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in each of the 341 blocks of the State as well as a Polytechnic in every Sub division. In order to encourage skill-development among youngsters, vocational education will also be imparted leading to over 42,000 students passing out at Higher Secondary level.